Christ-centered relationships are a source of joy in the Christian life. Four features characterize Paul's Christ-centered relationships: 1) Partnering in sharing Christ's love with others; 2) Believing in God's commitment to transform our lives; 3) Expressing appreciation to God & the other person.

From Paul's prayer for the Philippians, we learn that his highest priority for the Christian community is sacrificial love. Paul prays that their love would be guided by knowledge and discernment from God, point them toward a moral lifestyle, and enable God's transformation in their lives.

God is sovereign over our adverse circumstances ? namely, He is able to advance His purpose and our good through them. Even while imprisoned, Paul experienced joy as he trusted in God's sovereignty in two areas: 1) the progress of the Gospel; 2) his personal welfare.

Paul rejoices because of his hope regarding his future because of his trust in God. He prefers to go to the next life, but is willing to stay longer in this life to serve others for Christ's sake.

Paul urges his followers to devote themselves to community based on their shared basis of Christ. Paul identifies three key elements of Christian unity: 1) a common source of truth; 2) common outward focus; 3) common understanding of love.

Paul provides perhaps the most concise explanation in the New Testament of the dynamics of Christian spirituality ? especially what God does and what we do. The distillation of this concise passage is: ?Work out what God works in.?

Paul calls us to look at a specific area of our life where God wants us to work out our salvation: doing all things without grumbling or disputing. Grumbling, or complaining, is focused on self, while Christians are called to focus outwards. Disputing, or arguing, seeks to promote the self instead of promoting others. Paul calls followers of Christ to stand out as different from this world by rejecting these behaviors and finding joy through serving people.

Timothy and Epaphroditus are godly models, whom Paul urges the Philippians (and us) to observe and follow, and to model to others in four specific features of godly character: 1) genuine concern for other Christians' spiritual welfare; 2) service in furthering the gospel; 3) serving with other teammates; 4) sacrifice to help other Christian workers and ministries.

According to the Bible, there are ultimately only two bases for identity: boasting in one's achievements or affiliations; or boasting in Christ. Paul counts his own religious background as inferior compared to his identity in Christ. Paul urges the Philippians to follow his example in putting confidence in their identity in Christ rather than their flesh.

As people who have been made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ, Christians are now capable of growing in their personal relationship with Him. This growth is a privilege, and even though it should be a passion for all believers, it is easy to devalue the importance and joy that comes from knowing Jesus personally. To grow in our relationship with God involves admitting that: we have not arrived at a perfect knowledge of Christ yet, sharing in Christ's sufferings, and realizing we have not yet arrived at perfect knowledge and will not do so in this life.

Materialism and nationalism are real temptations that face the church, and just like Paul warns the Philippians about falling into these traps, modern Christians must be careful not to follow the world's perspective instead of the Bible's. Instead, we must focus on our eternal citizenship and home with Christ rather than building material wealth and learn how to work with one another to advance the gospel in spite of differing political views.

God promises to give us peace - personal assurance from His Spirit that He is with us and that He will see us through any circumstances in our lives. This peace comes from having a personal relationship with God and continuing to trust Him by focusing on evidence of His goodness and responding properly to anxious thoughts. Through continual practice of these disciplines, Christians can experience God's peace personally and for the rest of their lives as well.